We're gonna talk
about living free and men in
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particular I think need
to focus on living free in
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Christ. And we're gonna do
that this afternoon and why
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don't you bow your
heads with me so we start.
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Father in Heaven, how
good you are to us we pray that
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you will be our helper
and our teacher here. And that
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really the Holy
Spirit will be the one who
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empowers our mind to
understand the message that
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you have for us, in
Jesus wonderful name, amen.
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Well you have your
Bibles. In my other classes,
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I've been having people
just read it, but because of
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our setup here I'm not
going to do that, but you
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have your Bibles,
and if you turn to Romans
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chapter 4 with me I'm
going to start reading at
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verse 21. It's talking
about Abraham here, and we
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listen to the apostle
Paul comment on Abraham.
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He says in being fully
convinced that what he had
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promised, he was able
to perform in other words
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whoever God has
promised, he is able to perform,
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he is able to carry it
out so it's where you put your
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trust. You will put
your trust in something or
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someone. I like to
suggest to you that every
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behavior of your life
is based on your trust.
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The fact that you are
sitting on these chairs
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tells me that you trust
the chairs in fact that you are
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in this building and you
are not running. Now if the
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ground begin to shake,
I'll be right behind you
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because your faith was
suddenly change and when
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your trust change then
your behavior all the sudden
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changes as well. So,
Abraham went down this road
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and then he comes to
verse 22 and it was accounted to
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him for righteousness and
that word accounted also is
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often used as reckon.
Now everybody in this room
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because I believe that
most all of you are Christians,
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everybody in this
room knows that Jesus paid
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the debt on Calvary's
Cross, am I right. If you put
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a line here as your bank
account using a bank account
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as an illustration
using that word account
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then because all of us are
sinners, we are all indebted
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or we are all indebt.
So, Christ comes along and he
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sees our helpless condition
and he pays the debt that is
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clear for us. He pays
for our transgressions,
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we will hear that in just
a little bit, but that only
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brings you up to what?
Zero, that's exactly right.
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Can you live on zero, no.
Is anybody ever lived on zero
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as men we understand
that you got to have something
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more than zero to live
on. And you got to have a lot
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more than that. Our
righteousness is as filthy
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rags, so our righteousness
certainly is not going to
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help us, we have to
have life and you got to have
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powers. So, Jesus does
more than that and you will
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hear that coming through
in the text in just a moment
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He not only pays our
debt through Calvary's Cross,
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but he also adds to our
bank account an infinite amount
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of his own righteousness.
Is that good news?
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As wonderful news,
that means you got something
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to go on here that's very,
very powerful. Let's look at
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this text just a little
bit more here. Let me stop,
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before I go there and let
me ask another question too,
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have you ever notice
these people they go to these
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gambling places, you
know, they why do people go to
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gambling places? One
person sitting in the last said
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I want to win it big.
Why do people want to win it
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big? They equate
winning it big, they equate that
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with freedom am I
right? In other words, I don't
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have to work that's right,
that's what you are saying.
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In other words, I've got
so much money here I can do
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whatever I wanted to
do, whenever I wanted to do
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and so that is just freedom
of course that still gonna
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die, am I right.
Nobody has ever escaped that
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but except two people
that I know of and that was
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Elijah and Enoch. So,
here we are, these folk
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want to make it big because
they want freedom that comes
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back my point here, if we're
gonna live a righteous life,
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we got to have money
in the bank and that money
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in the bank is Christ
very own righteousness
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that he puts there. And
so we got lot to go on here.
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Now let me just look at
it just little bit more,
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now it is verse 23
says, it was not written for
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his sake alone, that
it was imputed to him,
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in another words for all
of us. It was written for us,
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but also for us verse 24,
it shall be imputed to us who
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believe in him, we put our
trust in him, who raised up
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Jesus our Lord from the
dead, who was delivered up,
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this is a crucial text,
who was delivered up because
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of our offences that is
the debt delivered up to what?
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Calvary's cross and was
raised for our justification
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or our living if you please;
justification is not only
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for covering us and paying
our debt. It is also to give
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us life and to give it
what? More abundantly, I know
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you want the abundant
life. Won't you love the Lord,
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he is the one who give
us lives that we have to go
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through you know drag
and everything, he wants
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to have us really happy
and in peace and free from
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fear, free to live his
life. Now, let's look at this a
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little bit more, goes
right down in chapter 5 here
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looking at the first few
verses, so it's therefore
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having been justified
by faith we know what that
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means all of this
Christ righteous imputed to us,
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having been justified
by faith we have peace
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with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ. Don't raise
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your hands you know
Christian who say I'm a
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Christian, but they have
no peace, there is no peace
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You think the Jesus
want you to have peace
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when you get up and
peace when you go to bed.
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If you have trusted him
with your debt, can't you also
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trust him with your
life? I mean say that again,
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if you trust him to cancel
the debt, can't we trust him
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in governing our life.
A lot of people can't make
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that step they are afraid
to let Jesus take charge of the
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life because they are
afraid of something will not
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go the way they wanted
it to go. You really need
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to do by like that. Let's
look at this, but if you put
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your trust in him we
have peace look at verse 2
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through whom we also
have access by faith into
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this grace in which we
stand aren't you glad that
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this grace is something
that we actually stand in.
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It's like a great big
umbrella if you pleased,
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it's not just on and off so
to speak. Grace is something
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that you stand in, it is
something that you become
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part of. We don't talk
enough about God's grace.
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How big is God's grace,
how powerful is God's grace.
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Is God's grace
continually pursue us. Let me
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ask a question it will
probably be controversial,
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if you have a different
answer than I do you still
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love me is that okay. I
still love you, here is the
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question ready for it.
When David sinned when he
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made that premeditated,
precalculated choice
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and you know what I'm
talking about without having
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to go into detail, when he
did that, if David had died
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at that moment would
he had been saved or lost?
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Now, you gonna to
wrestle with that. It was
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interesting in last
class they bound set around
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pretty good and I don't
know are the microphones
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out there somebody want
to tell me what you think,
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anybody brave enough
to tell me what you think
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Was he saved or lost at
that point. I am not giving you
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two choices, the last time
I checked that's the only two
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choices we have. I
think he was lost. You think
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he was lost. At that
time. At that moment,
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alright. If I think he
was saved, still saved.
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Somebody still
thinking about, okay.
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I think he was saved
because Mrs. White says that
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God goes by the
pattern of our lives not by the
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individual likes. Oh
okay, but I'm talking about now
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not coming around the corner
and slipping on the banana
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peeling a temptation.
I'm not talking about all
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suddenly you know just
and you lose your temper
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or something unexpectedly
and you should overcome
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that too of course. I'm
talking about premeditated,
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precalculated choice.
He knew what he was doing,
00:10:02.48\00:10:08.90
so is he saved or lost
at that moment. If he dies
00:10:09.97\00:10:14.58
at that moment. David is
a king, yes he is a high man
00:10:14.61\00:10:17.56
in the kingdom, but from
what I understand from the
00:10:17.59\00:10:19.92
Bible is that sin is
sin and that for God excuse
00:10:19.95\00:10:23.21
something like that to
be that wouldn't be right.
00:10:23.24\00:10:25.92
I think he is lost.
We wouldn't, we wouldn't,
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David was a man after
his own heart. Let me ask you
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a question have all of you
all the time been men after
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God's own heart. Was David
a man after God's own heart
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when he was doing this
precalcualted, premeditated,
00:10:36.24\00:10:38.67
prechoice? Okay, I got
another brother right up
00:10:38.70\00:10:43.68
here on the front, right
on the left right here. Okay
00:10:43.71\00:10:47.46
got one over here
okay go right over here,
00:10:47.49\00:10:49.19
I'll take over here and
then we'll go right over here.
00:10:49.22\00:10:50.94
Well, what do you think
about if God was patient
00:10:50.97\00:10:53.90
with David and saw that
this was happening and he
00:10:53.93\00:10:56.83
wouldn't let him die?
Well let's come to that
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in just a moment. I
think of God would not have,
00:10:59.78\00:11:03.00
he couldn't have been saved
at that moment, but I think
00:11:03.43\00:11:07.30
God was waiting and
hoping and praying that he would
00:11:07.33\00:11:09.01
ask for forgiveness.
Okay you are getting on
00:11:09.04\00:11:10.80
something really good
here and I'll just go there
00:11:10.83\00:11:13.78
right now. I think at
that moment, I don't think
00:11:13.81\00:11:17.02
you could be in a
safe condition if you
00:11:17.05\00:11:18.68
premeditated and
precalculated disobeying
00:11:18.71\00:11:21.57
the Ten Commandments. I
don't think you can do that.
00:11:21.60\00:11:23.64
I think if he had died
that moment he would be lost,
00:11:23.67\00:11:26.82
but behold the grace of
God, behold the grace of God.
00:11:26.85\00:11:32.95
Let me ask you a
question, do you think that
00:11:32.98\00:11:36.33
the devil showed up at
the judgment bar of God
00:11:36.36\00:11:38.53
and said look God David
look you see it, you see it,
00:11:38.56\00:11:41.79
now giving to me his mind
tell your angels that guard
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him to get out of my
way. You think that happen,
00:11:45.00\00:11:47.45
I'm not a betting man,
but I'm just about sure
00:11:48.09\00:11:50.42
that kind of things some
form happen. In other words,
00:11:50.45\00:11:53.46
the devil shows up and
says his mind, he is on my
00:11:53.49\00:11:55.93
territory, you have
no right to keep me back,
00:11:55.96\00:11:58.05
tell your angels
to get out of the way,
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and if they had
gotten out of the way
00:11:59.92\00:12:01.67
what would Satan
have done to him?
00:12:01.70\00:12:03.49
He would have killed him
for sure because he wanted
00:12:03.93\00:12:06.00
to seal what he had at
that moment, the behold the
00:12:06.03\00:12:08.77
grace of God, who looks
at Lucifer and says, no.
00:12:08.80\00:12:12.50
You know God can say
thanks in a real short way,
00:12:13.41\00:12:16.15
no the angels stay in place
and so God prevented Lucifer
00:12:16.49\00:12:21.25
from taking the life
of David behold the grace
00:12:21.28\00:12:24.67
of God. Behold the grace
of God, what else did God do,
00:12:24.70\00:12:29.58
he does just
simply passively sit there
00:12:29.61\00:12:31.75
and wait. He now sins
forces to Nathan, who is a
00:12:31.78\00:12:35.55
very close friend of
David. He says forces to Nathan
00:12:35.58\00:12:38.96
and Nathan comes up and
he tells Nathan what to say
00:12:38.99\00:12:42.16
and he comes to David you
know the story he points to
00:12:42.19\00:12:44.47
David and he
says you are the man.
00:12:44.50\00:12:47.64
Behold the grace of
God that raised up Nathan
00:12:47.84\00:12:49.73
the prophet. Behold the
grace of God; at the moment
00:12:49.76\00:12:53.88
those words were spoken
to David, you are the man
00:12:53.91\00:12:57.55
behold the grace of God.
The Holy Spirit hits David
00:12:57.58\00:13:01.52
with all the power of
heaven and David's heart melts.
00:13:01.55\00:13:05.80
And he kneels, as it were
before God and confesses his
00:13:07.15\00:13:10.96
sin behold of grace of
God, who accepts through
00:13:10.99\00:13:13.59
repentance of David
and behold the grace of God
00:13:13.62\00:13:15.94
and restores him to
himself. Aren't you glad for the
00:13:15.97\00:13:18.82
grace of God? Amen. How
big is the grace of God?
00:13:18.85\00:13:22.39
How wonderful is the
grace of God. In this grace
00:13:22.79\00:13:27.19
in which we stand, I'm so
glad that God doesn't like
00:13:27.22\00:13:30.67
go of it easily. And
then he goes on to say,
00:13:30.70\00:13:35.16
we stand rejoice in the
hope of the glory of God in that
00:13:35.68\00:13:38.56
verse 3 is an
interesting one. Because it says
00:13:38.59\00:13:43.98
and not only that, but we
also glory in tribulations,
00:13:44.01\00:13:49.25
I want to ask you a
question, how many of you
00:13:49.28\00:13:51.80
get excited about trouble,
how many of you get excited
00:13:51.83\00:13:56.24
about tribulation? I want to
tell you I don't like trouble.
00:13:56.27\00:13:59.56
I don't like tribulation.
I don't like difficulty.
00:14:00.17\00:14:02.68
I don't like sorrow and
heartache. I hate to see
00:14:02.71\00:14:06.17
people suffer. I
don't like to suffer myself.
00:14:06.20\00:14:09.22
So, I mean you
can't be pollyanna here,
00:14:11.19\00:14:14.08
pollyanna here, you can't
just stick your head in the
00:14:14.11\00:14:16.22
sand and say I rejoice
in tribulation, I glory in
00:14:16.25\00:14:19.39
tribulation. I mean trouble
is trouble. Tears are tears,
00:14:19.42\00:14:24.98
difficulty is still
difficult. So, how could the
00:14:26.70\00:14:31.19
Apostle Paul say after he
says all of these wonderful
00:14:31.22\00:14:34.69
things that Jesus has
done for us and says we have
00:14:34.72\00:14:38.59
this great hope and then
say we glory in tribulation?
00:14:38.62\00:14:44.25
Is anybody here ever
been afraid of trouble,
00:14:45.48\00:14:47.68
I have. I won't trouble.
You know it's not a matter
00:14:48.16\00:14:55.35
of if trouble is going
to come your way it's only a
00:14:55.38\00:14:57.92
matter of when trouble
will come our way, am I right.
00:14:57.95\00:15:00.42
Jesus said he did
this as a matter of fact,
00:15:01.55\00:15:04.70
he says those there are
Christians those who follow
00:15:04.73\00:15:08.17
him. He talked to his
disciples you will have
00:15:08.20\00:15:12.64
tribulations. You will
have them it's not the matter of
00:15:12.67\00:15:17.90
if. In the Old Testament
and I think in Psalm 33
00:15:17.93\00:15:22.85
that says many are
the afflictions of the
00:15:22.88\00:15:25.02
righteous, I praise God
that God didn't put a period
00:15:25.05\00:15:28.79
there. He says, but the
Lord delivers him out of
00:15:28.82\00:15:33.91
them all. And going back
to the words of Jesus you
00:15:33.94\00:15:37.81
will have tribulation, he
doesn't put a period there
00:15:37.84\00:15:40.15
either. He comes in and he
puts this, but he says be a
00:15:40.18\00:15:43.43
good cheer. I have what you
may remember the rest of it,
00:15:43.46\00:15:47.08
overcome the world.
So, what does it mean?
00:15:47.61\00:15:52.29
Does it mean that we really
are happy that trouble comes
00:15:52.32\00:15:54.77
I don't think we can say
that. I don't think that's
00:15:54.80\00:15:57.37
word right. I'm not happy
for trouble. So, how do we
00:15:57.40\00:16:01.52
glory in tribulation because
tribulation does two things,
00:16:01.55\00:16:09.04
we live in a world of
sin you know when we get to
00:16:09.83\00:16:11.63
the kingdom of heaven
is not gonna to be anymore
00:16:11.66\00:16:13.23
trouble I think all of us
will say halleluiah to that.
00:16:13.26\00:16:15.57
I'm all for that. But
right now in this world
00:16:15.60\00:16:19.36
when trouble comes and it
comes to us as Christians,
00:16:19.39\00:16:23.12
we can rejoice in two
things one that it gives us
00:16:23.15\00:16:27.95
an opportunity to bring
glory to God, am I right.
00:16:27.98\00:16:31.96
As people watch you go
through difficulty whether
00:16:32.44\00:16:35.88
it maybe your wife or
your children or your spouse
00:16:35.91\00:16:39.58
or someone are people
close to you our neighbors
00:16:39.61\00:16:42.75
when people watch you go
through difficulty and they
00:16:42.78\00:16:45.61
watch you not be destroyed,
they watch God sustain
00:16:45.64\00:16:50.49
you and they watch your
cheerfulness in the midst
00:16:50.52\00:16:54.88
of that. What does that
do for them? It gives them
00:16:54.91\00:16:59.95
strength doesn't it, because
they're gonna get trouble
00:16:59.98\00:17:01.80
too somewhere trouble
is gonna come to them?
00:17:01.83\00:17:03.69
If it hasn't already and
so we can it's an opportunity
00:17:03.72\00:17:08.55
to bring glory to God,
the second thing is that
00:17:08.58\00:17:12.35
it builds Christian
character. And I want you to
00:17:12.38\00:17:15.76
watch this if you
would for me, looking at,
00:17:15.79\00:17:19.00
at Romans chapter 5
again looking at verse 3,
00:17:19.03\00:17:23.42
knowing that with also
glory and tribulations,
00:17:24.16\00:17:27.39
knowing that tribulation
produces perseverance our
00:17:27.42\00:17:31.91
Godly patients and
character and character hope
00:17:31.94\00:17:36.75
let me just take those
three for just a moment.
00:17:36.78\00:17:38.85
If you have gone through
difficulties and you have
00:17:39.20\00:17:42.74
patiently put your trust
in the Lord and he has brought
00:17:42.77\00:17:46.08
you through that and
then you are looking ahead at
00:17:46.11\00:17:49.01
life and all of the
sudden you are faced again with
00:17:49.04\00:17:52.64
trouble, you faced again
with hearing of difficulty,
00:17:52.67\00:17:55.84
coming your way. Does that
experience of going through
00:17:56.15\00:17:59.98
that successfully how
does that prepare you to take
00:18:00.01\00:18:03.71
the new wave of difficulty.
I tell you how it prepares
00:18:03.74\00:18:10.81
you to take that new
wave of difficulty because you
00:18:10.84\00:18:14.69
already have experienced
God's power to take you
00:18:14.72\00:18:18.87
through it and so as
you count how God took you
00:18:18.90\00:18:22.70
through it you look at
the new and you say Lord I
00:18:22.73\00:18:25.75
know you can take us
through his too, because you
00:18:25.78\00:18:30.72
didn't find and complain
and grovel and fall apart and
00:18:30.75\00:18:35.35
because you put your
trust in God and the other.
00:18:35.38\00:18:38.22
You now have built
confidence because you are
00:18:40.17\00:18:42.30
persevered trusting in
God even when it didn't feel
00:18:42.33\00:18:45.87
good, even when it hurt,
even when they are sorrow
00:18:45.90\00:18:47.98
and there is tears
and is difficulties,
00:18:48.01\00:18:50.04
even when you
continue to persevere in that.
00:18:50.07\00:18:52.48
Now that you face again
with more trouble you face that
00:18:52.51\00:18:55.61
with a new confidence.
Not because you won't trouble,
00:18:55.64\00:18:59.04
but because God is
allowing it in order to help you
00:18:59.07\00:19:03.01
perfect your character.
And that gives you hope.
00:19:03.04\00:19:06.11
Hope to go
through the difficulty,
00:19:06.14\00:19:08.32
hope listen to this,
hope the scripture says
00:19:08.35\00:19:11.61
that will not disappoint.
Isn't that good news? Now
00:19:11.64\00:19:16.66
put too that all things
work together for good to those
00:19:16.69\00:19:20.18
that love the Lord and
call according to his purpose.
00:19:20.21\00:19:23.28
So, Christ our
righteousness in the practical
00:19:26.60\00:19:30.75
application is not
only rejoicing the fact that
00:19:30.78\00:19:34.69
he has forgiven me my sins
that he has got, he is also
00:19:34.72\00:19:38.87
taking charge of my
life. And that my life now
00:19:38.90\00:19:44.68
is totally and completely
in his hands. I'm gonna say
00:19:44.71\00:19:49.35
more about that as I go
on to that because it is
00:19:49.38\00:19:55.31
powerful. Let me look at
verse 5 with you if you got
00:19:55.34\00:19:57.58
your Bibles, now hope
does not disappoint because
00:19:57.61\00:20:02.07
the love of God has been
poured out in our hearts by
00:20:02.10\00:20:05.26
the Holy Spirit who
gave us. Now, the thing
00:20:05.29\00:20:07.32
I love about God is that
he comes in and he produces
00:20:07.35\00:20:10.05
unselfish love in us.
Are you able to produce
00:20:10.08\00:20:12.29
unselfish love in your
heart? You are not able
00:20:12.32\00:20:14.89
to do that, but when
you go through difficulties
00:20:14.92\00:20:17.35
and you know that God
sustains you and you know
00:20:17.38\00:20:18.97
that he loves you then
that also produces love
00:20:19.00\00:20:22.18
in your heart the Holy
Spirit comes in and make
00:20:22.21\00:20:24.64
you a fountain of God's
love. Don't you want to be
00:20:24.67\00:20:26.38
a fountain of God's love?
I say it's not much of that
00:20:26.41\00:20:29.09
around nowadays not
much of that around. Now,
00:20:29.12\00:20:33.28
I want to move on just
a little bit further and
00:20:33.31\00:20:37.18
I would like to go to if
you please go to chapter 6
00:20:37.21\00:20:41.44
and I want to talk a
little bit more about freedom
00:20:42.07\00:20:44.05
and what I've done is try
to set the basis for freedom
00:20:44.08\00:20:46.69
and to set the basis here
as Christ our righteousness
00:20:46.72\00:20:49.75
being applied to our lives,
because I think we want to
00:20:50.21\00:20:53.18
be free there are so
many things that's in slaving
00:20:53.21\00:20:55.46
people today. The
devil doesn't want any of us
00:20:55.49\00:20:58.76
to be happy, he wants us
to be enslave to a tempter,
00:20:58.79\00:21:01.40
he wants us to be
enslave to a critical attitude.
00:21:02.09\00:21:04.79
If you wanna one
wonderful reference go read,
00:21:05.98\00:21:10.53
go read Thoughts From
the Mount of Blessings
00:21:10.56\00:21:12.60
that is one of my
favorite little books.
00:21:12.63\00:21:14.56
Thoughts From the Mount
of Blessings and read what
00:21:14.82\00:21:16.71
it talks about a judgmental
attitude. It's a powerful
00:21:16.74\00:21:22.65
thing, it doesn't mean
that you don't make value
00:21:22.68\00:21:24.15
judgments, it don't
mean it's doesn't mean,
00:21:24.18\00:21:25.63
you know, might
things choices what's right
00:21:25.66\00:21:27.81
and wrong, it doesn't
mean that sin is not only
00:21:27.84\00:21:30.11
proved when it needs to
be reprove, but it means that
00:21:30.14\00:21:33.04
you just don't have a
spirit that's constantly seizing
00:21:33.07\00:21:36.35
somebody up and being so
critical. I mean you can be
00:21:36.38\00:21:41.72
that way with your wife,
am I right. I mean you live
00:21:41.75\00:21:46.03
with her and you can
look at her and you know
00:21:46.06\00:21:48.47
let your mind go that
way. Are she could be that way
00:21:48.50\00:21:52.01
with you. Look at if
you please if you look at
00:21:52.04\00:21:55.93
verse 23 chapter 6
verse 23 for the wages
00:21:55.96\00:21:59.55
of no, no I'm sorry,
verse 22, but now having
00:21:59.58\00:22:02.91
been set free from
sin having becomes slaves
00:22:02.94\00:22:07.02
of God you have fruit
to holiness and the in
00:22:07.05\00:22:11.48
eternal life. In other
words you have two choices
00:22:11.51\00:22:14.24
if you were hear
at last camp meeting,
00:22:14.27\00:22:16.30
I noted that I'll do a
quick review here you have
00:22:16.33\00:22:18.91
two choices, you can either
choose to be the Devil Slave
00:22:18.94\00:22:23.36
or you can choose to be
God's slave, am I right.
00:22:23.39\00:22:25.62
You don't have
three choices, you don't
00:22:25.65\00:22:27.96
have the choice of
being in charge of you.
00:22:27.99\00:22:30.27
Most people want to be
in charge of you that's how
00:22:31.22\00:22:33.29
we have such a hard
time surrendering our life
00:22:33.32\00:22:35.96
to God. I had somebody
tell me one time that he has
00:22:35.99\00:22:38.48
some friends that was
struggling with Christianity
00:22:38.51\00:22:40.29
and they basically
walked away from the Lord.
00:22:40.32\00:22:41.83
And he says why he
walk away from the Lord
00:22:42.14\00:22:43.75
they say well won't you
trust the Lord they said
00:22:43.78\00:22:45.90
when we trusted the
Lord with our lives he made a
00:22:45.93\00:22:47.75
mess out of it. I like
to help them, I like to help
00:22:47.78\00:22:55.22
them to know when they
were born in this world
00:22:55.25\00:22:56.92
there life was
already a mess. I mean our
00:22:56.95\00:23:02.65
our environment, our
genes everything about us,
00:23:02.68\00:23:05.97
our life is just full
who was that said that was it
00:23:06.00\00:23:10.95
Jacob the man's life is
few and few days and full of
00:23:10.98\00:23:15.39
trouble. But I tell you
what a real problem was.
00:23:15.42\00:23:21.45
The real problem is
that they had to decide what
00:23:24.38\00:23:27.24
their own their own
life ought to be. And they
00:23:27.27\00:23:32.76
decided since they had
made up with their life
00:23:32.79\00:23:34.90
ought to be that I've put
my trust in Jesus, he supposed
00:23:34.93\00:23:37.23
to deliver what I
want my life to be. If you,
00:23:37.26\00:23:45.64
if you trust the
Lord, Jesus with your life,
00:23:45.67\00:23:48.74
then you got to give
over the future to him.
00:23:50.18\00:23:52.51
You got to be willing
to let whatever he chooses
00:23:54.66\00:23:57.02
to come your way, you got
to be willing to submit to
00:23:57.05\00:24:01.00
it now that's hard.
Because most of us don't want to
00:24:01.03\00:24:04.76
give up, we don't want to
go over there. We don't want to
00:24:04.79\00:24:06.91
give that up, we don't
want to say Lord I want to
00:24:06.94\00:24:10.92
surrender my future,
no you've got to surrender
00:24:10.95\00:24:13.19
that if you are gonna
trust Jesus with your debt
00:24:13.22\00:24:15.78
you've also got to
trust him with your life.
00:24:15.81\00:24:18.58
And I want to tell you
that at the end Jesus never
00:24:19.85\00:24:22.92
makes a mess out of
anybodies life. In the end
00:24:22.95\00:24:25.85
all things always
work together for good
00:24:25.88\00:24:28.89
to those that love the
Lord and are called according to
00:24:28.92\00:24:31.00
his purposes. And the
big picture it all turns out
00:24:31.03\00:24:34.52
wonderful because God
has a way of doing it,
00:24:34.55\00:24:37.45
there is a wonderful
statement in the spirit
00:24:37.48\00:24:39.53
process that you can
look back on says that when we
00:24:39.56\00:24:42.32
get to the kingdom of
heaven that someday we'll be
00:24:42.35\00:24:44.21
look back in our life,
now what that be something.
00:24:44.24\00:24:46.36
I don't know what kind of
record God has it is better
00:24:46.80\00:24:49.17
than DVDs, it's better
than the video whatever it is
00:24:49.20\00:24:53.11
it shows everything
about our lives. Since that we
00:24:53.14\00:24:56.18
will not be unhappy these
are my words my paraphrase,
00:24:56.78\00:25:00.66
we will not regret
or be unhappy at the way
00:25:00.69\00:25:03.83
that God has let us. We
will be knowing that God
00:25:03.86\00:25:07.37
let us just the way we
would have wanted to be led,
00:25:07.40\00:25:09.81
now that you can look
back on, in that something,
00:25:09.84\00:25:11.90
but that's for those,
that's for those that trust
00:25:12.70\00:25:16.13
their life with God
completely. Now let's go
00:25:16.16\00:25:21.50
I have this, I have
this little quote here,
00:25:22.41\00:25:27.94
well I'm not quite ready
for that. I'm gonna hang on
00:25:27.97\00:25:30.41
to that for just a moment.
Let's move into chapter 7
00:25:30.44\00:25:35.66
and I'm going to read
these words looking at verse 22,
00:25:36.81\00:25:43.56
verse 22, still
with me okay here we go
00:25:43.59\00:25:48.99
chapter 7 verse 22, for
I delight in the law of God
00:25:49.59\00:25:53.00
according to the inward
man, but I see another law
00:25:53.03\00:25:57.92
in my members warring
against the law of my mind.
00:25:58.17\00:26:01.77
Question and answer, is
that the great controversy?
00:26:01.80\00:26:04.78
He just I delight in the
law of God in the inner man
00:26:06.04\00:26:09.18
I delight and is wonderful,
but he says on the other
00:26:09.25\00:26:11.78
hand in my flesh I
see another law and he is
00:26:11.86\00:26:14.37
warring that words war
says there is a controversy
00:26:14.41\00:26:17.33
that is a great controversy
thing fall over every
00:26:17.91\00:26:19.87
human being, every one
of us. In this other law is
00:26:19.90\00:26:23.94
warring against us.
Do you know, do you know
00:26:24.06\00:26:27.39
Christians have you
seen Christians, who they say
00:26:28.06\00:26:31.83
well you know I've
given my life to Christ, but
00:26:31.94\00:26:33.79
you now one day they do
one thing kind of in the
00:26:35.03\00:26:39.17
Devil's court, the next
day they try to do something
00:26:39.32\00:26:41.25
in the Lord's court and
they are just pulled back
00:26:41.40\00:26:44.18
and forth it's like that
you know they just put on
00:26:44.39\00:26:46.56
an offence and they
shove this way one day
00:26:46.59\00:26:48.63
and they shove that way
one day and they just feel
00:26:48.70\00:26:51.81
miserable. They just
feel like that they that life
00:26:51.95\00:26:56.12
is just a struggle, a
constant struggle between
00:26:56.30\00:26:59.51
God and Satan. You
don't have to raise your
00:27:00.09\00:27:03.24
hands; some of
you may feel that way.
00:27:03.32\00:27:05.70
I want to ask you a
question, is Jesus want you
00:27:06.99\00:27:09.43
to feel that way. Is
that the experience Jesus
00:27:09.52\00:27:11.90
has and the fact that
he has added all of this
00:27:12.00\00:27:15.19
power to your life
does he want you to have
00:27:15.37\00:27:17.81
that or does he want
to give you freedom from
00:27:17.88\00:27:21.38
being the servant of sin.
I think you know the answer
00:27:21.52\00:27:25.00
of that. That's why
the Apostle Paul you see
00:27:25.10\00:27:28.03
in the next two
verses there he says oh
00:27:28.18\00:27:30.27
wretched man that I'm
is it fun to be wretched,
00:27:30.70\00:27:33.71
I don't like being
wretched and being pull
00:27:33.96\00:27:35.99
about back and
forth is wretched. Oh,
00:27:36.12\00:27:37.41
wretched man that I'm,
who will deliver me from
00:27:37.62\00:27:41.19
this body of death
and then he says I thank
00:27:41.29\00:27:44.43
God through Jesus Christ
our Lord, so then with the
00:27:44.60\00:27:47.42
mind I serve the law
of God, but with the flesh
00:27:47.61\00:27:50.34
the law of sin. Question
and answer, this hand is
00:27:50.83\00:27:54.84
this hand control this
hand or to something else
00:27:54.99\00:27:57.88
control this hand? Does
my mind control that hand,
00:27:58.03\00:28:02.31
so if my mind in my
mind I serve the law of God
00:28:03.40\00:28:06.72
who will it do to
this flesh that wants to do
00:28:07.12\00:28:09.20
something different.
It will bring it in under
00:28:09.37\00:28:12.16
control am I right. If
I'm serving the spirit of
00:28:12.33\00:28:15.75
God with my mind,
where the mind then bring
00:28:15.86\00:28:19.74
the flesh under
control. See there are some
00:28:20.02\00:28:26.21
Christians that say oh
well, you know they get so
00:28:26.32\00:28:30.97
tired of the
wretched pull back and forth,
00:28:31.21\00:28:33.68
they get so tired of
that. They say, look Lord
00:28:33.96\00:28:37.14
they kind of a philosophical
solution, philosophical
00:28:37.62\00:28:39.99
solution is Lord it doesn't
matter, the Lord is so big
00:28:40.21\00:28:44.99
I'm saved by faith.
And so Lord he'll just have
00:28:45.08\00:28:48.17
to put up with some
mistakes. He'll just have
00:28:48.20\00:28:52.23
put up with my
imperfections and they
00:28:52.48\00:28:54.85
just kind of abandon
themselves to doing certain
00:28:54.93\00:28:57.43
things I know it's not
good, but they say you know
00:28:57.51\00:28:59.65
I can't give it up its
too tough. That, to say that
00:28:59.68\00:29:03.03
is to say that our
Lord didn't put enough money
00:29:03.08\00:29:05.48
in the bank, but he put
enough money in the bank
00:29:05.51\00:29:10.30
for us to live free by
his grace. I'm not saying
00:29:10.36\00:29:13.63
whenever it come to
temptation, thank God the
00:29:13.66\00:29:16.51
Apostle John says, you
should not sin if you are
00:29:16.63\00:29:19.12
Christians, but then
he says but if you do you
00:29:19.43\00:29:21.06
have a what an
advocate, thank God for that.
00:29:21.18\00:29:24.00
But let me go to this
quote here, this is Testimonies
00:29:24.29\00:29:30.13
volume 4 page 656,
strength of character
00:29:30.26\00:29:33.32
consist of two
things, strength of character,
00:29:33.41\00:29:38.01
as man we all have
strength of character,
00:29:39.33\00:29:40.81
I think God calls men
to have strong character
00:29:41.53\00:29:45.49
wouldn't it have
been wonderful if Adam had
00:29:45.66\00:29:48.33
stood up when Eve
brought in the fruit and
00:29:48.44\00:29:50.77
said Eve no. I'm not
going there. Wouldn't have
00:29:50.95\00:29:54.81
been wonderful, if
he had trusted God with
00:29:54.86\00:29:56.69
Eve's awful
decision, wouldn't it have been
00:29:56.91\00:30:01.28
wonderful, if he
had done at that point.
00:30:01.38\00:30:05.27
Strength of character
consist of two things,
00:30:08.54\00:30:10.74
the power of the will
that's the power of choice,
00:30:12.48\00:30:15.96
when thoughts come
rushing in your mind that
00:30:18.70\00:30:20.23
are not to be there
you can make a choice Lord
00:30:20.38\00:30:22.72
I'm not going
there, I'm not going there.
00:30:22.75\00:30:25.23
Lord give me power
I'm not gonna think those
00:30:25.26\00:30:26.93
things, you can
say that 10,000 times.
00:30:26.96\00:30:28.89
The power of choice and
the power of self-control.
00:30:29.77\00:30:33.82
Now, do you need, there
is no need for self-control
00:30:35.72\00:30:40.12
if self is already in
control. Let me explain
00:30:40.88\00:30:43.07
what I mean by that.
Itself is going along and
00:30:43.11\00:30:45.76
everything is nice,
there is not any need for self
00:30:45.88\00:30:48.02
control, but when self
wants to go a wrong way
00:30:48.10\00:30:50.61
that's when you have
to have self control am I
00:30:50.81\00:30:52.50
right, is that the
steering wheel on the car.
00:30:52.61\00:30:55.78
You have to turn that
wheel to keep it in the
00:30:56.86\00:30:59.31
road. If you just add on
the soft flats of Nevada you
00:30:59.49\00:31:04.44
can just let go
steering wheel sort of speed.
00:31:04.53\00:31:06.85
Many, many make
mistake, many youth mistake
00:31:09.38\00:31:13.27
strong uncontrolled passion
for strength of character.
00:31:13.51\00:31:17.70
You know what Hollywood
says? If you are strong
00:31:18.20\00:31:21.00
uncontrolled passionate
person you are strong.
00:31:21.27\00:31:23.93
She says they make a
mistake if they have the
00:31:26.26\00:31:27.74
strength of character,
but the truth is that he who
00:31:27.82\00:31:30.46
is mastered by his
passions is a weak man.
00:31:30.50\00:31:34.49
So, if your passions
overcoming you, you are
00:31:36.58\00:31:39.05
not living in freedom.
You are not drawing on the
00:31:39.16\00:31:43.21
bank of Christ
righteousness. The real
00:31:43.38\00:31:48.81
greatness and nobility
of the man is measured are
00:31:49.03\00:31:53.16
you ready for this? The
real nobility of the man is
00:31:53.27\00:31:59.69
measured by the
passions that he subdues.
00:31:59.84\00:32:04.82
Think about that one,
so ask yourself Lord did I
00:32:06.67\00:32:10.58
subdue my temper. Have
I brought this thing under
00:32:10.69\00:32:20.20
control yes I may feel
like telling my kid off.
00:32:20.39\00:32:24.17
But I bring it under
self-control when you had
00:32:27.26\00:32:32.23
angers well up and you
bring it under self control
00:32:32.53\00:32:35.80
and do not let it express
itself that is self-control.
00:32:35.83\00:32:41.10
No matter what part
psychology says. The real
00:32:43.92\00:32:51.13
greatness and nobility
of a man is measured by the
00:32:51.18\00:32:53.19
power of the feelings
that he subdues. Not by the
00:32:53.36\00:32:58.03
power of feelings that
subdue him. How many of
00:32:58.10\00:33:02.35
you ever been
overcome by your feelings?
00:33:02.38\00:33:04.17
How many just launched
into it. I've had the Lord
00:33:04.97\00:33:08.33
save me a lot of times.
It is probably better not
00:33:08.52\00:33:13.54
to make the phone
call. You know what I mean,
00:33:13.71\00:33:16.77
until the feelings are
under control. It is probably
00:33:18.39\00:33:24.47
better not to say anything
to an angry spouse until
00:33:24.78\00:33:30.00
the feelings are
brought under control.
00:33:30.04\00:33:32.36
Can you say can we
discuss this later when I'm not
00:33:33.75\00:33:35.67
feeling like I'll be
right now. I think we've a
00:33:35.79\00:33:38.73
better discussion,
it's probably better not to
00:33:38.89\00:33:40.99
correct your children
until those feelings are
00:33:41.13\00:33:44.07
brought in control.
And when infatuation come
00:33:44.32\00:33:50.18
coming by and you are
attracted or whether it's
00:33:51.45\00:33:53.38
pictures or whatever it
is. And the feelings want to
00:33:53.56\00:33:57.97
go there, we just
bring those feelings under
00:33:58.00\00:34:00.95
control they are naturally
go that way because the
00:34:01.09\00:34:03.56
old man naturally takes
you that way. So all of you
00:34:03.60\00:34:07.34
all of us some of are
phlegmatics and you so
00:34:07.37\00:34:09.55
laid back you
probably never, never would get
00:34:09.74\00:34:12.57
angry, but a lot of
other people are not that way.
00:34:13.17\00:34:15.36
Where are your
feelings and bring them under
00:34:17.81\00:34:21.48
control. The
strongest man is he; I love this
00:34:21.69\00:34:26.17
statement because it's
got so much balance to it;
00:34:26.32\00:34:28.57
if you ever had
somebody mistreat you?
00:34:29.44\00:34:30.95
Yes, probably and
everybody say yes to you.
00:34:33.37\00:34:35.11
Somebody is gonna
mistreat you somewhere.
00:34:35.41\00:34:37.59
So if I'm gonna to do
something it's gonna hurt.
00:34:37.74\00:34:39.42
The strongest man is
he, who while sensitive to
00:34:41.71\00:34:45.97
abuse will yet
restrain passion and forgive his
00:34:46.10\00:34:52.31
enemies, isn't that beautiful.
You're sensitive to the
00:34:52.44\00:34:58.61
hurt, yes it hurt, you
are not trying to be pollyanna
00:34:58.73\00:35:01.65
sort of speak, yes it
hurt, but I don't choose the
00:35:01.95\00:35:04.75
retaliation, I don't
choose the anger, I don't
00:35:04.79\00:35:07.76
choose vengeance,
what I choose is to forgive
00:35:07.93\00:35:11.68
even if I don't feel
like it. I want to forgive him
00:35:11.93\00:35:13.96
anyway, she said that is
the strongest evidence that
00:35:14.21\00:35:22.02
you are a hero. And I
think every man wanted to
00:35:22.05\00:35:27.46
be a hero in that
context by the grace of God.
00:35:27.53\00:35:31.20
Our challenge is, is
learning how to be debt to
00:35:33.98\00:35:44.23
ourselves you know
we don't like this dying
00:35:44.26\00:35:46.60
business. And this is
really practical, I still
00:35:46.67\00:35:55.89
struggle with this, I've
shared this a few places,
00:35:56.01\00:35:57.94
but I want to share
right now, if we die to
00:35:58.14\00:36:01.80
ourselves tomorrow
doesn't matter does it.
00:36:01.83\00:36:06.33
If we die to ourselves
my ambitions for the future
00:36:08.24\00:36:12.02
don't matter do they.
That is mean I want to die,
00:36:12.28\00:36:17.42
it means I love to
live don't you love to live.
00:36:17.97\00:36:20.75
But if I come to the
place that self is dead,
00:36:21.98\00:36:25.03
I understand this world
is temporary and anytime
00:36:25.32\00:36:27.53
the Lord says Jay I'm
done you are done then I've
00:36:27.66\00:36:31.85
got to be willing to
cheerful. Ellen White says
00:36:31.98\00:36:37.97
that there is a, there is
a picture before all of us.
00:36:38.04\00:36:40.92
There is a plow and
an altar. You know you do
00:36:42.55\00:36:47.79
what with the plow, in
those days you got behind
00:36:47.88\00:36:51.04
the plow and that's
the work, you are living,
00:36:51.28\00:36:54.13
you are working, but
the work it's not party.
00:36:54.28\00:36:56.90
Christians have been
called to a party. I tell you
00:36:58.14\00:37:02.42
that once you go to this
ramp, there is a sweetest
00:37:02.45\00:37:05.05
most peaceful joy
that only Jesus can bring.
00:37:05.08\00:37:08.70
On the other side is an
altar, you know, what they
00:37:10.54\00:37:12.16
did with altars. People
die on altars. I don't know
00:37:12.21\00:37:20.64
which one the Lord
will choose today perhaps he
00:37:20.67\00:37:23.25
has chosen the plow,
perhaps tomorrow, maybe
00:37:23.51\00:37:25.79
for some years to
come I don't know. Maybe
00:37:25.82\00:37:29.84
until Jesus comes he
chooses the plow, but he
00:37:29.96\00:37:32.52
may not at some point
he may choose the altar.
00:37:32.55\00:37:35.31
And I've got to be
willing to lay down on that
00:37:38.73\00:37:40.31
altar and trust the
Lord Jesus with my life.
00:37:40.35\00:37:43.07
That's dying to self.
When you die to self at an
00:37:46.00\00:37:51.46
18, I'll use this
illustration cut your off
00:37:51.57\00:37:53.71
and drop to 50 miles on
the inner state, what kind
00:37:53.74\00:37:59.20
of reactions do you
have? If, if I'm dead to self,
00:37:59.23\00:38:08.60
I look at that individuals,
so you know it doesn't
00:38:10.19\00:38:11.82
matter. I'm relaxed,
if Jesus wants me to slow
00:38:11.96\00:38:14.09
down 50 miles an
hour, I will slow down 50
00:38:14.21\00:38:15.78
miles an hour. Because
Jesus is now in charge of
00:38:15.98\00:38:20.59
my life, I'm not in
charge of my life. And instead
00:38:20.62\00:38:24.91
of being angry at that
guy and getting all upset
00:38:24.94\00:38:27.20
about that guy then
what I say you know God
00:38:27.42\00:38:30.71
thank you for
blessing him he is your child.
00:38:30.91\00:38:33.34
I had somebody not
long ago in my office not a
00:38:33.50\00:38:35.98
worker. Someone in
my office they were so
00:38:36.01\00:38:40.20
angry, so I mean they
were just oh they were just
00:38:40.39\00:38:43.12
fortalice and finally
they call this individual a
00:38:43.43\00:38:46.13
really ugly name
and I just stopped him.
00:38:46.27\00:38:48.40
I say guy I ask you a
question. I said what if
00:38:48.86\00:38:55.64
when you get to the
kingdom you saw that
00:38:55.68\00:38:58.98
person there. I
said how would you feel?
00:38:59.15\00:39:03.13
Would you say, oh no
how in the world God did
00:39:04.94\00:39:08.84
you let you. They
didn't disagree with me.
00:39:08.97\00:39:15.34
Then I said, then I
said, but you know if you feel
00:39:19.12\00:39:26.69
that way now, are
you going to be there.
00:39:26.82\00:39:32.15
Remember Steven
polling the coats all in the
00:39:36.71\00:39:40.00
coats, one of the last
scene Steven sees before he
00:39:40.03\00:39:43.72
falls asleep in
martyrdom. It's the Apostle Paul
00:39:43.80\00:39:46.80
what do you think
Steven's reaction is going to be
00:39:48.62\00:39:51.57
when he gets the
kingdom and he wakes up on
00:39:52.61\00:39:55.98
that morning and he
sees Paul saw come walking
00:39:56.04\00:40:00.10
into the kingdom. What
do you think he is gonna
00:40:00.32\00:40:03.31
say, is he gonna to
say oh that rascal God how
00:40:03.37\00:40:05.64
did you let him in
here. No, I don't tell you
00:40:05.72\00:40:07.22
because Steven
was a converted man.
00:40:07.67\00:40:09.73
When Steven died he
died with a love of God in
00:40:10.50\00:40:12.61
his heart, now with
vengeance in his heart.
00:40:12.66\00:40:14.58
He died with not anger
towards Paul, but love he
00:40:15.06\00:40:18.37
wanted him say, but
when he sees Paul walk
00:40:18.40\00:40:20.34
through there he is
gonna I think he will be the
00:40:20.56\00:40:22.38
first to speak and he is
running, grab the apostle
00:40:22.62\00:40:24.85
Paul and say praise
God you are here I'm so
00:40:24.88\00:40:28.21
grateful that you
here. That's what going to
00:40:28.34\00:40:29.77
happen. We got to
have that kind of love now
00:40:29.93\00:40:35.44
and the on the way you
can have that kind of love
00:40:35.47\00:40:37.52
is to die to yourself.
I use this illustration
00:40:37.82\00:40:42.67
maybe some of you
seen me use it me before.
00:40:42.96\00:40:45.00
Like any illustration
you got to be, you got to be
00:40:45.21\00:40:46.96
careful with it you
understand that because
00:40:47.92\00:40:49.80
illustrations are only
made to do one point they
00:40:49.88\00:40:53.90
are not made to
you know go many,
00:40:53.93\00:40:56.14
many different ways.
So, I want to erase this
00:40:56.31\00:40:58.54
here for just a moment
and I want to draw for a
00:40:58.67\00:41:01.60
moment a human
heart. In every human heart,
00:41:01.63\00:41:07.25
there is a throne what
do you do from thrones,
00:41:07.56\00:41:11.17
you give orders am I
right. So what do you
00:41:12.50\00:41:14.32
think about king says go
do this, go do that, etc,
00:41:14.44\00:41:16.97
etc. All of us are
born into this world with an
00:41:17.08\00:41:20.98
unselfish old man
sitting on that throne. And he
00:41:21.10\00:41:25.26
selfish and so the
older people live their lives
00:41:25.48\00:41:28.74
with him giving the
orders he says you know go
00:41:28.88\00:41:30.75
do this, go do this,
this is in your self interest,
00:41:30.80\00:41:33.08
this is what you are to
do, all in the context of
00:41:33.31\00:41:36.46
selfishness. The Devil
has a problem and here is
00:41:36.65\00:41:42.63
the problem the Devil
has. At some point even
00:41:42.66\00:41:47.57
though people think
it's wonderful he is gonna
00:41:47.60\00:41:49.58
call some people a
lot of misery am I right.
00:41:49.75\00:41:52.23
One way or the other,
and so at some point you
00:41:53.37\00:41:56.25
get to the place when
you say, you say I can't,
00:41:56.34\00:41:59.95
I can't stand this
anymore and you come to the
00:42:01.52\00:42:03.30
conclusion that this
old man is gonna kill you.
00:42:03.43\00:42:07.59
And so in
desperation what you do.
00:42:09.36\00:42:11.81
In desperation you
cry out to Jesus and Jesus
00:42:13.25\00:42:17.90
comes in and he grabs
the old man from off the
00:42:18.17\00:42:20.68
throne. And he takes
the old man and he puts him
00:42:20.81\00:42:28.33
in jail. The scripture
says in Romans chapter 6 it
00:42:28.36\00:42:33.13
says, consider verse
11, consider him debt or
00:42:33.24\00:42:37.89
reckon the old man
debt. Does that mean that he
00:42:37.92\00:42:41.11
is debt dead? No, it's
like disinheriting someone
00:42:41.20\00:42:47.13
you say no you no
longer my relative or
00:42:47.17\00:42:50.73
whatever. You no
longer consider him even
00:42:50.78\00:42:53.85
though he still love.
The old man still retains
00:42:53.96\00:42:57.55
some power even till
the day that Jesus comes of
00:42:57.60\00:43:01.53
the day we die so to
speak. But Jesus puts him
00:43:01.59\00:43:06.50
in jail. Now let you
suppose for a moment,
00:43:06.61\00:43:11.22
I don't know if this
is a good illustration,
00:43:12.47\00:43:13.99
but I'll use it. Let's
say before you are a Christian
00:43:14.03\00:43:17.10
you drink beer and you
became a Christian gave
00:43:17.13\00:43:19.70
that up. And so you
are watching television and
00:43:19.79\00:43:24.21
there came one of
those beer commercials by the
00:43:24.24\00:43:25.99
way who writes the beer
commercials. I think the
00:43:26.06\00:43:28.68
Devil and his evil
angels right the beer
00:43:28.80\00:43:30.20
commercials. So there
comes a beer commercials
00:43:30.33\00:43:32.99
all the sudden you
know all those you hear this
00:43:33.02\00:43:35.10
voice from the cage.
You hear that voice and he
00:43:35.29\00:43:38.55
says, hey don't you
remember all the good times
00:43:38.63\00:43:40.63
we used to have.
Don't you remember when it
00:43:40.67\00:43:42.00
was high, don't you
remember you know all that
00:43:42.06\00:43:44.32
comes fluting back and
says oh yeah, yeah I do I
00:43:44.43\00:43:46.50
do remember, it would
be good if you could just
00:43:46.65\00:43:48.28
have a nice cold and
you say oh yeah, yeah and
00:43:48.37\00:43:51.42
then he says what
you know you could.
00:43:51.52\00:43:53.32
How, well let me ask
you a question. Who has
00:43:53.82\00:43:57.89
the key to this jail? You
do, I do, there is a key to
00:43:57.92\00:44:06.17
this jail, my key is not
a very good one, but it's
00:44:06.40\00:44:09.73
you got the point. He
has got, you got the key to
00:44:10.16\00:44:15.71
the jail, so he says
you got the key, why don't
00:44:15.79\00:44:18.13
you just unlock it
and let me out of here and
00:44:18.16\00:44:20.93
I'll let you have that
and you say in a moment of
00:44:20.96\00:44:25.14
weakness you unlock
the door and he jumps out
00:44:25.26\00:44:28.51
and when he jumps
out what do you think he
00:44:28.54\00:44:29.74
does. He grabs Jesus
off the throne, remember
00:44:30.01\00:44:35.66
this is illustration
parable. And he puts Jesus into
00:44:35.69\00:44:39.07
the jail. Locks the
door, climbs on the throne and
00:44:39.10\00:44:42.94
says I give you the
order drink the beer and you
00:44:42.99\00:44:46.29
drink the beer. And
then you hear another voice
00:44:46.37\00:44:53.02
from the jail and it
says Jay you feel good about
00:44:53.98\00:45:01.27
that? No, I don't feel
good about it, I wish I
00:45:01.30\00:45:05.43
hadn't done that, why
did I do that. You are fine
00:45:05.62\00:45:08.36
if you want to kick
yourself. Why did I say
00:45:08.58\00:45:14.02
that, why did I do
it? And he says you know
00:45:14.14\00:45:19.43
you got the key and
with repentance you can let
00:45:21.17\00:45:25.22
me out of here. You
say Lord I'm so sorry,
00:45:25.26\00:45:29.12
I'm so sorry this is
wonderful with that key
00:45:29.37\00:45:32.11
you unlock the door
and Jesus comes out and he
00:45:32.40\00:45:34.66
grabs that old man and
he throws him in the jail
00:45:34.75\00:45:37.18
and slams the door.
Now question and answer,
00:45:37.28\00:45:41.50
how do you get this
old man week? How do you
00:45:44.52\00:45:52.08
get him week? I'll
tell you how you get him
00:45:52.19\00:45:54.94
week. You don't feed
him a promise a lot of
00:45:55.03\00:46:00.39
Christians feed him and
he has got lot of reserves
00:46:00.54\00:46:02.88
stacked up in
there. How do you keep from
00:46:03.00\00:46:05.75
feeding him? It's
what you see, it's what you
00:46:05.82\00:46:14.32
hear, it's guarding
your sins. When that beer
00:46:14.49\00:46:19.72
commercial came on to
you and said I know who
00:46:19.81\00:46:21.57
wrote that one and so
you don't feed him in fact
00:46:21.75\00:46:28.38
I don't want to get this
guy so week. I want to get
00:46:28.92\00:46:31.90
him so week in my life
that he is flat on his back.
00:46:31.99\00:46:34.97
And that he can't
even whisper and that he is
00:46:35.83\00:46:38.66
unconscious. Anybody
with me on that, won't
00:46:38.95\00:46:45.50
you get tired hearing
this guy. Then don't feed it
00:46:45.53\00:46:49.59
and if you don't feed
him you'll be free from him.
00:46:51.49\00:46:53.09
If he gets unconscious
and you can't hear him
00:46:53.41\00:46:55.26
you are free. The
wicker he is, the freer are you
00:46:55.53\00:46:58.57
are so to speak. And
Jesus stays in control and
00:46:58.60\00:47:03.79
Jesus gives, he gives
the answer or he gives the
00:47:03.90\00:47:09.36
orders not the answers,
he gives the answers to,
00:47:09.56\00:47:11.31
but he gives the
orders. So the question is the
00:47:11.55\00:47:15.80
each of our lives is
what we're gonna do to self,
00:47:15.93\00:47:20.99
if you want to be free
from sin, self has got to die
00:47:22.26\00:47:27.53
and selfishness dies
with self am I right.
00:47:28.37\00:47:30.92
In fact, Ellen White
says that the character you
00:47:33.62\00:47:36.73
know that you are
making progress in character
00:47:36.80\00:47:39.10
when your mind is
constantly thinking about how
00:47:39.24\00:47:41.83
you can bless
somebody else. Where are your
00:47:41.91\00:47:46.75
thoughts? Are you
constantly thinking about
00:47:46.91\00:47:50.72
me, myself are you
saying Lord what can I do for
00:47:50.88\00:47:54.98
that person, how can I
bless that person what can
00:47:55.06\00:47:56.93
I do to be a
blessing here. And you take no
00:47:57.02\00:48:01.95
offense at
people's unkindness to you.
00:48:02.14\00:48:06.17
That's why we have to
have prayer, by the way if
00:48:09.92\00:48:12.77
Jesus stays in this
cage the apostle Paul says if
00:48:12.80\00:48:15.14
you crucify Christ to
fresh, there is no more
00:48:15.17\00:48:17.55
what? You could leave
Christ in the cage and
00:48:17.75\00:48:21.24
starve of Christ to debt
so to speak in, and then if
00:48:21.48\00:48:24.36
you die with the old
man on the throne what's
00:48:24.44\00:48:26.23
your resurrection are
you're gonna come up in.
00:48:26.26\00:48:27.95
I want to make sure
that my life always has Jesus
00:48:31.80\00:48:34.22
on the throne and
that's why you need the power
00:48:34.25\00:48:38.11
of prayer, that's why
you need to be constantly
00:48:38.16\00:48:39.47
thinking about other
people. How many of you
00:48:39.66\00:48:41.20
read the by Roger
Marino incredibility answers
00:48:41.26\00:48:44.98
to prayer. Many of you
read that, so he has got
00:48:45.08\00:48:46.82
one story that I'm
recalling real quick,
00:48:46.93\00:48:48.37
he brings out this point
beautifully that he started
00:48:50.05\00:48:53.01
living a prayer life
because he is constantly
00:48:53.21\00:48:56.34
praying for other
people and he is constantly
00:48:56.70\00:48:57.97
thinking about other
people and how God can
00:48:58.21\00:49:00.80
minister to them and
he told the story. How he
00:49:00.85\00:49:06.07
pulled in a parking lot
and there is a couple that
00:49:06.32\00:49:08.17
pulled up two spots
away from him. Remember
00:49:08.24\00:49:10.65
the story, pull up two
spots away from end, and it
00:49:10.75\00:49:16.86
is a hot day and the
wife turned off the engine
00:49:16.89\00:49:20.72
before the husband
rolled up the window and she
00:49:20.79\00:49:26.24
turned to him and she
said how can you be so
00:49:26.37\00:49:28.88
stupid as not to roll
up the window before I
00:49:29.04\00:49:31.52
turned it off. And
boom, out of the man's mouth
00:49:31.77\00:49:39.72
he said just roll,
just sliced her to bits with
00:49:39.82\00:49:43.72
profanity and so forth.
He said, at that moment he
00:49:43.88\00:49:49.50
said I had the
impression, I needed to pray for
00:49:49.57\00:49:51.37
these people and says
a silent begin to pay,
00:49:51.49\00:49:52.92
they don't know him
he has never met them.
00:49:53.07\00:49:54.81
He says I'm sitting
there in the car and he says I
00:49:55.94\00:49:57.63
begin to pray for
them asking that God would
00:49:57.77\00:50:00.08
move away the evil
angels from their lives and,
00:50:00.28\00:50:02.66
and bring reconciliation
and he, and he says
00:50:02.89\00:50:05.39
while he was praying
that all the sudden quite ran
00:50:05.50\00:50:08.27
for about 20 seconds,
it was just quite between
00:50:08.37\00:50:11.09
the two of them they
just sat there. And then the
00:50:11.12\00:50:16.15
man turned to his wife
and he, he says honey I
00:50:16.28\00:50:18.65
don't why I said all
that things and say I'm so
00:50:18.68\00:50:20.23
upset with myself he
say I don't understand why
00:50:20.26\00:50:22.20
I'm so quick tempered
it looks like I could bring
00:50:22.26\00:50:24.51
more control I thought
you never said this thing
00:50:24.59\00:50:26.38
to him I'm sorry, she
said what you know I shall
00:50:26.41\00:50:28.21
never done, I shall
never provoked to you,
00:50:28.35\00:50:29.95
she says I provoked to
you by saying something
00:50:30.05\00:50:32.02
so foolish. He said he
got out of the car and they
00:50:32.25\00:50:36.86
needed a coin for
the parking meter and he
00:50:36.94\00:50:39.99
couldn't find and he
said sugar pies, do you have
00:50:40.03\00:50:43.32
a coin in your purse
for that she says she was
00:50:43.35\00:50:46.09
reach around she
says yes and you smiling,
00:50:46.19\00:50:47.79
she says do you know
how many years it's been
00:50:47.86\00:50:49.51
she said since you
called me sugar pie.
00:50:49.58\00:50:51.64
He said she put her
arm in his arm and together
00:50:56.05\00:50:58.57
happily they walked
off to do their shopping.
00:50:58.66\00:51:01.01
I'm telling you we've
got to learn to know what it
00:51:01.26\00:51:04.40
is to die to self, so
that we constant living for
00:51:04.64\00:51:07.86
the good of other
people. There is a great
00:51:07.90\00:51:09.79
controversy going on
why don't we conquer self,
00:51:09.92\00:51:12.50
how we turn that over
to Jesus, turn our lives
00:51:12.74\00:51:14.71
over to Jesus, so that
he can use us. You don't
00:51:14.82\00:51:16.75
have to be a
minister, you don't have to be a
00:51:16.92\00:51:17.89
teacher, whatever line
of work you have, in your
00:51:18.06\00:51:20.69
home wherever, you
can't be like influence and
00:51:20.85\00:51:24.42
a power will flow
through you in order to reach
00:51:24.45\00:51:27.83
other people. Jesus is
coming, there is so much
00:51:27.88\00:51:30.84
work to do. And so my
appeal to you and to me
00:51:30.92\00:51:35.89
is let's live
free, but dying to self.
00:51:37.35\00:51:44.76
Let's pray Father in
Heaven thank you that we are
00:51:46.26\00:51:49.82
baptized into the death
of Jesus that we might live
00:51:49.91\00:51:54.04
his life of unselfish
love in Jesus name, amen.
00:51:54.24\00:52:02.05